Gravity feed coin bank



Oct. 3, 1961 s. M. HUTCHISON GRAVITY FEED com BANK Filed Aug. 14, 1958 nu! 6 wm SHELTON MHu cmsou, INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS United States Patent 1 I p p 3,002,313 I GRAVITY FEED: COIN BANK Shelton M. Hutchison, 4545 Providence Road,

Charlotte 7, N.C.

Filed Aug. 14, 1958, SenNo. 754,968

h 2 Claims. (CI. 46-3) This invention relates to a novelty coin bank of the gravity feed type. t

The present invention is embodied in a novelty coin bank constructed and designed to encourage one to deposit coins therein. The teaching of the meaning of thrift to a child is recognized to be'important and the present bank, by means of its novelfeatures, encourages a child to deposit coins therein and thus acts as a stimulant in instillingthe habit of thrift in'the child.

Moreover, coin banks of varying types have been used as collection boxes for needy charities at commercial establishments. The coin bank forming the presentinvention acts as an aid in securing contributionsto these charities by encouraging people to deposit coins therein.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a coin bank of the gravity feed type in which the deposited coin is adapted to pass downwardly through a slot formed in a coin receiving receptacle, the coin striking against at least one chime means on its descent toward the receptacle, thereby sounding a. musical note.

Another object of this invention is to provide a coin bank in which a deposited coin is guided along a zigzag path toward a coin receiving receptacle, the coin striking against a chime plate at the completion-of each segment of the zigzag path, thereby sounding aplurality of musical notes.

Another object of this invention is to provide a coin bank which has features tending to encourage one to deposit coins therein, the bank having coin guiding means to direct a deposited coin against a plurality of chime plates having different tonal qualities, whereby the complete passage of the coin from the insert slotof the bank to a lower coin receiving receptacle results in the playing of a melody as the coin strikes successively against the plurality of chime plates on its descent into the receptacle 7 to the delight of the person depositing the same.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which-- I p FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of the coin bank embodying the present invention; 3

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation, partially in longitudinal section, taken substantially along line 2-2 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a reduced transverse sectional view of the frame of the bank taken along line 33 in FIG- URE 1 and showing the coin receiving receptacle of the bank in plan;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the frame of the bank taken along line 4-4 in FIGURE 1. g

Referring to the drawings more specifically, there is disclosed a coin bank 10 having a coin receiving receptacle 11 and an upright frame 12 mounted atop the coin receiving receptacle 11. The. upright frame 12 is provided with guiding means 13 on the forward face thereof, which guiding means 13 is adapted to direct a coin or coinsof various sizes (as shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 1) from a top portion of the frame 12 downwardly through an elongated slot 14 formed in the coin receiving receptacle 1!.

It will be observed that the guiding means 13 includes a plurality of spaced apart, downwardly inclined chutes 2945. Alternate ones of said chutes-namely, chutes 3 z 20, 22, 24 and 21, 23, 25 are positioned in substantially parallel relationship.

Chutes 20, 22 and 24 are positioned with their uppermost ends in substantially flush relationship with the lefthand side of the forward face of frame 12, as viewed in FIGURE 1. Conversely, chutes 21, 23 and 25 are positioned with their uppermost ends in substantially flush relationship with the right-hand side of the forward face of frame 12. Each of the chutes 20-25 is inclined downwardly from its uppermost end, having a free lowermost end directed toward the opposite side of the frame 12, but in spaced relationship therewith. Thus, alternate chutes 20, 22, 24 and 21, 23, 25 have theirfree lowermost ends directed toward the same side of the frame 12 chutes 20, 22 and 24 being directed toward the righthand side of the frame '12 and chutes 21, 23 and 25 being directed toward the left-hand side of the'frame 12, as viewed in FIGURE 1.

As shown, the chutes 2045 may be formed integral with the forward face of the frame 12, each of the chutes comprising a base portion 26 projecting transversely from the forward face of the frame 12 and a coin retainer wall 27 joined to the end of the base 26 remote from the frame 12 and extending upwardly therefrom at right angles thereto. It will be observed, therefore, that each of the chutes 20-25 cooperates with the forward face of the frame 12 to define a coin receiving channel 30 between the forward face of the frame 12 and the retaining wall 27 of the respective chute.

It will be observed that the opposite sides of the frame 12 have a plurality of chime elements or plates 4045 removably secured thereto in a manner hereinafter described. From FIGURES 2 and 4, it is apparent that the chime. elements or plates 40-45 are so positioned relative to the sides of the'frame 12 in order that portions thereof may protrude beyond the forward face of the frame 12. Thus, each of the chime elements or plates 40-45 has a portion thereof in opposite, spaced relation to. the lowermost end of a respective one of the plurality of chutes 20-25. In this connection, chime elements or plates 40, 42 and 44 are disposed at the righthand side of the frame 12, as viewed in FIGURE 1, in spaced opposing relationship to the lowermost ends of chutes 20, 22 and 24, respectively. Similarly, the chime elements or plates 41, 43 and 45 are disposed in spaced opposing relationship to the lowermost ends of chutes 21, 23 and 25 at the left-hand side of the frame 12, as viewed in FIGURE '1. i p

The opposite sides of the forward face of the frame 12 are provided with means for mounting the chime plates 40-45 adjacent thereto, said means comprising a plurality of forwardly projecting'lug members or ears 46 which are integral with the frame 12. Each of the lug members or ears 46 is joined to a stem 47 projecting laterally outwardly with respect to the corresponding side of theframe 12. The stem 47 has a rounded knob 48 of enlarged diameter relative thereto on the end thereof remote from its respective lug member 46. Each of the chime elements or plates 4045 is provided with a keyhole slot 50 adjacent one end thereof, the key-hole slot 50 comprising interconnected relatively large and small apertures. The chime plates 4045 may readily be loosely secured to thesides of the frame 12 by allowing the rounded knob 48 projecting from a respective lug member 46 to penetrate the larger aperture of the keyhole slot 50 in the corresponding chime plate, whereupon the chime plate may be moved downwardly, as viewed in FIGURES 1 and 2, to permit the stem 47 to enter into the small aperture of the key-hole slot 50. The diameter of the rounded knob 48 is larger than that of the small aperture of the key-hole slot 50, thereby aeting as a stop to retain the respective chime plate on the stem 47 adjacent the corresponding side of the frame 12.

The chime plates 40-45 may be formed with different thicknesses, lengths or degrees of temper in order that they may possess different tonal qualities when'struck by a coin, as hereinafter described. It will *be apparent that the chime plates 40-45 may be interchanged with each other to produce varying sound effects or melodies. When removing a chime plate from the side of the frame 12, it is merely necessary to raise the respective chim'e plate in a vertical manner to permit the stem 47 to be moved into the large aperture of the key-hole slot 50 in the plate. The large aperture of the key-hole slot 50 has a diameter greater than that of the rounded knob48 on the end of the stem 47 remote from the lug member 46. Thus, the chime plate may be removed from the side of the frame 12 when in the aforesaid position by drawing the same laterally outwardly with respect to the side of the frame 12 to permit the stem 47 and the rounded knob 48 thereon to be withdrawn from the key-hole slot 50.

Communicating with the uppermost chute 20 on the forward face of the frame 12, there is dipsosed acoin insert guideway 51 comprising a pair of parallel, spaced, vertically extending coin chutes 5 2, 53. Chute 52 merges with the uppermost end of the chute 20 while the lower end of the chute 53 is spaced above a medial portion of chute 20. The "chutes 52, '53 are positioned inopposing relationship so that their coin retaining walls 27 extend toward each other.

Upon depositing a coin in the coin insert guideway 51 at the top portion of the frame 12, the coin will be permittedto decsend under the action of gravity to "the uppermost chute 20. The chute 53 of the coin insert guideway 51 is spaced sufficiently above the uppermost chute 20 to permit the coin to travel along the channel 30 formed in the chute 20. When the coin has reached the lowermost end of the inclined chute 20, the momentum of the coin will be such as to cause it to proceedat approximately the same angle-of inclination whereitsmovernent will be arrested by the chimeplate 40. Thus, it will be apparent that the coin will strike against the opposing surface of the chime plate tosound a musical note. In a like manner, the coin is permitted to travel along chutes 21-25, striking against the respective chime plates 41-45 after it completes its passage through the channel 30 formed in each of the chutes. The coin completes its journey into the coin receiving receptacle 11 'by dropping through the elongated slot 14 therein. The chime plates 40-45 may be so selected and'arranged in a predetermined sequence, whereby the striking of the coin thereagainst will produce a melody or a measure of music. Since the chime plates 40-45 are readily removable-from the sides of the frame 12, one can position them in a number of sequences to-produce various melodies or tunes.

Although six chime plates are illustrated in the drawings, it is apparent thatthe number of plates could be increased or decreased by increasing or decreasing 'the number of chutes for the coin to pass through before it enters the coin receiving receptacle 11. In order to remove the coins from the receptacle 11, a removable 'bottom 52 (FIGURE 1) is mounted for sliding movement therein.

It will be noted that the path followed by thecoin-upon its insertion in the insert guideway 51 is generally of a zig-zag configuratiomone of the chime plates 40-45 being positioned between adjacent segments forming the zig-zag path.

The coin bank 10 comprising the receptacle portion 11 and the frame 12 may be molded from a suitable plastic material as an integral unit, wherein the chutes 20-25, the mounting means for each plate 46, 47, 48, and the coin insert guideway 51 are integrally formed with the frame 12. The chime plates 40-45 are preferably made from metal, being made of varying thicknesses or with varying degrees "of temper to produce different tonal qualities as aforesaid.

There has been disclosed a novelty coin bank, wherein a coin upon being deposited travels in a zig-zag path along the forward face of a frame 12, the coin striking against a plurality of chime plates 40-45 in its descent toward a coin receiving receptacle 11 to produce a plurality of musical sounds pleasing to the car which may be in the form of a popular melody or tune, thus encouraging one to deposit coins in the bank 10 for the amusement 'or pleasure to be derived from hearing the melody. It is contemplated that the coin bank 10 may have the insert guideway 5-1 and the chutes 20-25 on its frame 12 plus the slot 14 in its receptacle 11 so dimensioned as to receive various sizes of coins-as for example, a penny, nickel, or-dime.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in theclaims.

I claim:

1. In a coin bank, a receptacle for receiving coins, an upright frame mounted 'upon said receptacle, means on said frame for guiding a coin from a top portion of the a frame downwardly into said receptacle, said guiding means comprising a plurality of spaced apart downwardly inclined coin chutes, alternate chutes being substantially parallel and having free lowermost ends directed toward the same side of said frame, and chime plates removably mounted on the sides of said frame, each of said chime plates being positioned in opposed spaced relation to the free lowermostend of the'corresponding chute, said chime plates having different tonal qualities and being arranged on the sides "of said frame in a predetermined sequence, whereby the coin will strike against the corresponding chime plate as it passes between adjacent chutes in its descent toward said receptacle, the complete descent of the coin causing-a melodyto be played by the striking of the coin against said chime plates.

2. Ina coin bank as in claim 1, and further including a plurality of stem members extending outwardly from the sides of said frame, and wherein each of said chime plates has a slot therein, said stem members being positioned within said slots of said chime plates for removably mounting saidchime plates on said-frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS France -2. May 9, 1904 

